Metal desk construction



Aug'. 23, r1932.- n. E. HUNTER 1,873,933

METAL DESK .CONSTRUCTION Filed March 2. 1931 hm L m @IQ/alims Patentesalla. as, iosa UNITED STATES DAVID E. HUNTER, OF MUSKEGON, VMICHIGAN',ASSIGNOR T0 THE SHAW-WALKER COM- Lawn PATENT OFFICE.

PANY, F MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION lOF MICHIGAN METAL DESKCONSTRUCTION Application filed March 2,

This invention relates to improvements in metallic desk construction,and more particularly to an improved mounting for the drawers of .suchdesks, whereby smooth and easy sliding movement ofthe drawers'may bemaintained, and periodic lubrication may `be resorted yto without dangerof soiling the person or clothing by contact with the drawer whenopen. l

The object of theinvention is to provide a type of track member whichwill permit of lubricating the tracks and yet protect and conceal themin such manner as to prevent the lubricated surfaces from being` exposedwhen 16 the drawer is opened.

The features embodying the invention are not necessarily limited tometal drawers or to metallic furniture, although particularly suitedthereto. f f

Referring to the accompanying drawing: r

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of one of the drawers of a deskwith portions of the track members broken away. l

Figure 2 isa view'in cross section through the drawer and supportingwalls as taken on line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in elevation of a section of a .stationarytrack member.

Figure 4 is a ,View in cross section through the stationary track memberas taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure `5 lis a view in side elevation of the sliding track member n thedrawer, and

Figure v6 is a cross-sectional view of the track member taken on line6-6 of Figure 5.

Asis the common practice in desk construction, a drawer 1 is mountedwithin a drawer compartment represented by vertical side walls 2, 2, asfor instance of a pedestal.v In ythis disclosure both the drawer and thewalls 2, 2 are of sheet metal, the former comprising an open receptaclewith vertical side walls la, la and a front wall 16, having a suitablehandle or vpull 1c. for endwise sliding movement to and from closedposition in the desk on pairs vof track members 3 and 4 on oppositesides, one member 3 of each pair being stationary and ixed to the walls2, and the other 4 being mounted 59 on and sliding with the drawer.

The drawer is mounted iaai. serial No. Maase.

sheet metal stamped or pressed to the crosssectional shape shown inFigure 4, namely, a

vertical web 3a which bears atwise against the side wall 2, andpreferably spot-welded thereto as atl/w, a, narrow web 3b along theupper edge of the vertical web and bent inwardly at right anglestheretoy and an inverted U-shaped rail 3c along the edge of the narrowweb 3b. Near the forward end of each fixed track member an elongatedhump 3d is pressed upwardly from the rail portion 3c and forms thecontact surface for the track 4member on-the drawer as shown in Figure,3. The track members 4 on the drawer are likewise formed from strips ofsheet metal stamped into the sectional contour r shape shown in Figure6, namely, each consisting of a vertical web 4a which is spot-welded tothe side wall 1a of the drawer as at lw, a web 4b bent. at right anglesalong the lower edge of the vertical web and a short downwardlydepending flange 4c along the outer edge of the web 4b. Near the rearend of these track elo in Figure 1, that is, the hump 3d at the forwardend of the stationary track member 3 supporting the track member 4 onthe drawer while the hump 4d at the rear end of the drawer track member4 bears upon fixed track member. And finally the depending {iange 4c ofthe drawer track member extends outwalrdly beyond and downwardly alongthe side of the invert U-shaped rail of the fixed track member, so thatwhen thedrawers are withdrawn, the track surfaces which may have a filmof oil thereon are completely covered and thus protect the hands orclothing from heini soiled by contact with the lubricated trac surfacesor other surfaces that "2 I f y 1,873,933

might be coated with lubricant spreading from the track surfaces, whenthe drawers are pulled out into open position. Ordinarily a few dropsofvoil applied to the track sur- 5 faces are suicient lubrication for along period, but should-they be oiled ,too frequently there would be thepossibility ofl anv excess forming on surfaces whichleft exposed wouldcreate an uncleanly condition. I

Having set forth a preferredl embodiment of' my invention, I claim:

1. In a drawer construction for fdesks,the combination with a ydrawercompartment of pairs of horizontal track members for slidably supportinga drawer, each pair consisting of a xed track member on a vertical wallof said compartment and a movable track member on the side of saiddrawer,`and having overlapping transverse track iian'gesy 2Q spacedapartvertically by the provision of A fe-le'vatedportions at opposite ends ofsaid.

I track flanges, one of each ,pair of track members having an outwardlydisposed depend- 1., ing web enclosing said track surfaces.` 2. In adrawer ,construction for metal desks,the combination with a drawercomartment of `pairs of horizontal track memers for slida ly supportinga drawerv thereon, each pair consisting of a fixed track mem- -berhaving a vertical web adapted to fasten flatwise against the verticalwall of said compartment and an inverted U-shaped rail projecting towardsaid drawer, a movable track member fixed to the side of said drawer and'having a transverse track iange overlying and having sliding contactwith said rail, and

a depending w'eb along its outermost edge exf tending over andconcealing the rail of said xed track member. 'l

4 3. In a v drawer construction forl metal desks, the combination withadrawer compartment of pairs of horizontal sheet metal track members for`slidably supporting said drawer, each pair consisting of a fixed trackmember having avertical web adapted to be welded to the vertical wall of)said compartment, an inverted U-shaped rail projecting inwardly alongits upper edge provided with a raised hump in the upwardly facin tracksurface near one end thereof, a movab e track member on the side of saiddrawer having a y vertical web welded to the drawer, a transverse flangeoverlying said rail and ha' ing a depressed hump adjacent the oppositeend .of said track `flange, and a web along its outer edge extendingdownwardly'beyond' the rail of said fixed track member whereby saidtracks slide on said humps at oppositely disposed ends and said tracksurfaces are concealed by said depending web of said mov- ,able trackmember.

l Signed at Muskegon, Mich., this 26th day of yFebruary 1931.

5 f DAVID E. HUNTER.-

